H5N1, Bird Flu Updates
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Tracking Bird Flu Cases
Bird flu deserves its own thread for tracking suspected and confirmed cases. It's not the pandemic virus, but it is still an ongoing and significant threat because of its... Read More

Makoto at FluTrackers.com has been posting confirmed and suspected H5N1 outbreaks among poultry and wild birds in Japan. In the last 45+ days H5N1 has been confirmed in about 25% of the prefectures in Japan. H5N1 is still spreading in Japan.

A five-year-old Cambodian girl has died from bird flu, the World Health Organisation said Wednesday, in the first reported fatality from the virus since early last year.

The girl fell ill in the capital Phnom Penh on January 30 and was taken to hospital with symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath, a joint statement from Cambodia and the UN's public health arm said. She died on February 4.

"Despite intensive medical care, the girl died 12 hours after admission from complications," it said.

During the recent political crisis in Egypt, the Ministry of Health continued to do its job. An individual died in Egypt on February 7 from an H5N1 infection as noted in the post below. When this cases is reported by WHO it will become the 123rd human H5N1 infection in Egypt.

Monofia witnessed today the death of a new case of bird flu, which is owned by Mr. Juma Juma (43 years old - agricultural workers), and a resident of the village of Bani Gheryan Quisna Center.

Dr. Hisham Atta, Deputy Minister of Health Menoufia, that the deceased had been detained a hospital Shebin two days ago, following the emergence of symptoms of the disease from a rise in temperature and pain of joints, and as a result of the sample were positive.

Atta noted that it was taking samples from the relatives of the deceased, for analysis and indicate whether they have had the disease or not, to cleanse the house with disinfectant.

"The Tripura government has sounded an alert in the state following outbreak of avian influenza in R K Nagar farm (about 6 km from here) and about 3,000 ducks and chicken were culled there yesterday," Principal Secretary of Animal Resource Development department Sriram Taranikant told reporters.

Mr. Taranikant said that as preventive measures poultry and egg markets within 10 km radius of the R K Nagar farm were closed, restrictions imposed on the movement of personnel working in the farm, strict surveillance was being maintained in the farm and adjacent areas and the entire area being sanitised.

Following instructions from the Central expert team, the State government decided to cull poultry birds within 3 km radius of the infected farm.

Don't confirmed yet, but it would not be the first time for H5N1 to make an appearance in Engand.

Quote from www.sundaymercury.net

HORRIFIED bird lovers demanded an urgent investigation last night after the mystery deaths of SIXTEEN swans in just six weeks.
The 'unprecedented' number of fatalities has wiped out around 30 per cent of the population along the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Now wildlife experts are calling for immediate tests on the dead bodies - after raising fears that Bird Flu may be responsible.

Earlier, about 16 hours 30 minutes 14.2 days, patients given emergency Hue Hospital at Hue University of Medicine with symptoms of flu such as H5N1 flu, shortness of breath, acute respiratory failure, pneumonia ... To 17 hours with 30 days, the patient was transferred to Hue Central Hospital and died the same day as 20 hours.

After the patient died Dinh Thi Hue, 27 doctors, nurses, nurses, technicians of the University Hospital of Hue Medical and Pharmaceutical been exposed to this patient and four patients with Hue were roommates for medication tamiflu and quarantined to prevent influenza A/H5N1.

Samples taken from Prak Sophorn, 21, who died on February 13, and her 11-month old son, Sun Nga, who died on February 15, were sent to the World Health Organization for testing and results are expected soon.

Keo Sopheaktra, director of Banteay Meanchey province's health department, said the mother and son became sick after eating infected chicken.

He said seven villagers who helped clean Prak Sophorn's body for cremation have been admitted to the Mongkol Borei district hospital for treatment after each developed a fever and cough.

Earlier, about 16 hours 30 minutes 14.2 days, patients given emergency Hue Hospital at Hue University of Medicine with symptoms of flu such as H5N1 flu, shortness of breath, acute respiratory failure, pneumonia ... To 17 hours with 30 days, the patient was transferred to Hue Central Hospital and died the same day as 20 hours.

After the patient died Dinh Thi Hue, 27 doctors, nurses, nurses, technicians of the University Hospital of Hue Medical and Pharmaceutical been exposed to this patient and four patients with Hue were roommates for medication tamiflu and quarantined to prevent influenza A/H5N1.

(thanks to Avian flu diary for the heads up on this fatal human case)

The test results on this patient suspected with H5N1 indicate that the patient who died was infected with Influenza A(H1N1) not H5N1 (bird flu).

It's just influenza, but the case fatality ratio is not in our favor, and that is why we study it.

Quote from http://www.who.int

A 19-year-old female, from Takong village, Ta Kong commune, Malay district, Banteay Meanchey Province, developed symptoms on early hours of 5 February, was admitted to a private clinic on 9 February, referred to a hospital on 12 February, and died on 12 February without avian influenza being considered as a diagnosis. She had travelled from her home with her husband, her 11-month old son, her mother in law and her sister in law to Rokar Chor village, Bantey Chakrey commune, Prash Sdach district, Prey Veng Province on 3 January. She had multiple exposures to sick and dead poultry between the second half of January and early February. A blood specimen collected at hospital on 12 February was transferred to Institut Pasteur du Cambodge on 22 February and tested positive by (polymerase chain reaction) PCR.

The 11-month-old son developed symptoms on 5 February, was admitted to hospital 15 February and died on 17 February. He also had multiple exposures to sick and dead poultry in the same time frame. The presence of H5N1 virus in nasopharyngeal specimens was confirmed by Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, the National Influenza Centre on 20 February. Of the 13 cases of human H5N1 virus infection confirmed since 2005 in Cambodia, 11 have been fatal.

Elsewhere, in West Java, in area with H5N1 poultry outbreaks, there are at least two individuals hospitalized with symptoms of H5N1 infections, an adult and a child, along with dozens and dozens of other individuals being monitored for H5N1 infections. The hospitalized adult is the Head of Technical Services Unit Banyuresmi District Livestock Office. This person is in charge of eradicating H5N1 among poultry flocks in the local community.

Today, WHO confirmed three new cases of H5N1 in Egypt since the middle of January. One died, one was released from the hospital, and one is still hospitalized. The recent political upheaval in Egypt has obviously affected the reporting process to WHO.